The Club moved to the KCOM Stadium in December 2002 after leaving their former Boothferry Park home where they had been resident for 56 years. The KCOM Stadium is home to both Hull Football and Rugby League Clubs. Inside the stadium looks very impressive, however from the exterior it looks a bit plain. It doesn't help that the most interesting part of the exterior, visually, around the main entrance, is mostly obscured by trees. However the stadium is set in a parkland and can be seen for some distance around and has won a number of awards for its design.

The KCOM Stadium is totally enclosed, with the Cranswick plc (West) Stand being around twice the size of the other three sides. The roof rises up and curves around the West Stand, giving the stadium an interesting look. Inside the curves continue as each of the stands slightly bends around the playing area, drawing the eye to sweep panoramically around them. Apart from the West Stand, each of the other three stands is single tiered. The West Stand also benefits from having a row of executive boxes running across its middle. There is a large video screen at the North End of the stadium, where the Police Control Box is also situated. The P.A system within the stadium is also excellent.

In April 2016 the KC Stadium was renamed the KCOM Stadium to reflect the new brand name of Kingston Communications.(KC), who currently have the naming rights to the stadium.

Craig Harper informs me; 'The Club have plans to add an additional tier to both the East & South Stands, which will increase the capacity of the KC Stadium to around 34,000'. However, no firm timescales have been announced as to when this may take place.

Away fans are located in the North East corner of the stadium, where up to 2,510 supporters can be housed. This away section extends around the North East Corner into the first couple of blocks of the North Stand. Entrance to the ground is gained via electronic turnstiles where you have to put your ticket into a barcode reader. The facilities available are good, plus you enjoy an unobstructed view of the playing action, although fans are a little set back from the pitch. I found the atmosphere to be also generally good within the stadium. On the concourse alcohol is available, plus burgers, Hollands pies (£3.20) etc..The Club also allow fans to have at half time a cigarette outside the ground, if they so wish.

Dave Winsor a visiting Nottingham Forest fan adds; 'Our seats were roomy and comfortable with a raised behind the goal view. Plenty of leg room and helpful stewards along with a nice fat matchday programme and a really good selection of food and drink from the concourse all contributed to the favourable impression. An interesting ground with much more to it than the usual depressing flatpack stadium of some other designs'.

Please note that the stadium has been designated a no standing area, which on the face of it seems a little ridiculous. This has led to some unpleasant confrontations between away fans and stewards, so you have been warned. Craig Waites a visiting Bradford City fan adds; 'On my last visit I felt the Policing was over the top. It was like going back to the 1980's'. Owen Robson a visiting West Ham United fan informs me; 'The West Ham fans stood up throughout the entire game, without any hassle from stewards or Police. I presume this was because of the huge away support on that day.'

For night games the stadium puts on a cracking light show, accompanied by music, which is put on for around five or six minutes before the teams come out onto the field of play. It is well worth watching (See a video of the light show taken before a Rugby League game, in the carousel of images above).

Away supporters have their own bar called the Pitch Side located at the KCOM Stadium itself. Although not the most spacious of bars it does show live sports on a number of screens and also offers cold food and snacks, such as sandwiches. The entrance to the bar is located outside the stadium, next to the visiting fans turnstiles. However please note that the Pitch Side Bar stops serving alcohol 45 minutes before kick off. Tim Jones a visiting Aston Villa supporter informs me; 'The Park View pub virtually opposite the stadium car park entrance allows in away fans. It has a good atmosphere and the Hull fans there were friendly. It also has a big screen showing Sky Sports and a burger van outside'. Whilst fellow Villa fan Neil Tate adds; 'There is also the nearby Walton Street Social Club that also admits away supporters. Although it costs £1 to go in, it has good cheap beer, is of a good size and offers a separate area for sale of food such as burgers and chips etc.. There were plenty of fellow Villa fans in there during our recent visit. Turn right out of the main car park entrance and it is down the road on the left hand side.' Further down Walton Street, on the corner with Anlaby Road, is a pub called the Boot Room. This pub also admits visiting supporters and has the benefit of showing live sports on five large screens.

There are a number of other pubs within a few minutes walk of the stadium, but these are all designated as being for home supporters only. Most Hull fans still seem to be heading for pubs situated around Boothferry Park. These are best avoided by away fans particularly the Silver Cod pub. Otherwise, you can head for the nearby City Centre, where there are plenty of pubs to be found. Sam Carroll suggests Sam Carroll suggests 'Bowers' (formerly called the 'Linnet & Lark') on Princes Avenue. As Sam says; 'It has lots of TVs showing Sky Sports, making it perfect to watch the early or late kick off games. It is a 15 minute walk away from the stadium, going across the pedestrian footbridge over the railway line. Also, there are a number of other bars dotted along Princes Avenue, which should be okay for away fans to drink in. There is also ample parking in the streets located off the avenue. Closer to the stadium around a 15 minute walk up Walton Street, is the Avenues pub on Chanterlands Avenue, that welcomes both home and away supporters.'

Robert Walker adds; 'If you are walking to the stadium from the City Centre there are several pubs on Spring Bank, including the Editorial. Or there is the Admiral of the Humber (a Wetherspoons outlet) on Anlaby Road near Hull Paragon Railway Station'. Right next door to the Wetherspoons is an upstairs bar called the 'New King Edward' that also admits visiting fans. Andy Beill adds; 'I'd recommend The Punch Hotel pub. It is situated in the town centre next to the Princes Quay shopping centre, so not far from the train station. It does great homemade food'. On the edge of the city centre on Albion Street (behind the Prospect Shopping Centre) is the Hop & Vine. This small basement bar specialises in real ale and cider (although premium lagers are available too) and also serves bar snacks.

Otherwise alcohol, Carling and Marstons are served within the stadium. However, for some high profile matches, the club does not provide alcohol to away supporters.

The KCOM Stadium is around a 20 minute walk away from Hull Paragon Railway Station. Turn left at the end of the railway station platform and then left into the bus station (without going outside the station). Exit the bus station at the far end. Walk past Tesco on your right, cross over Park Street at the traffic lights. Following blue pedestrian signs to KC Stadium go along Londesborough Street (where there is a handy fish and chip shop). Cross Argyle Street and onto pedestrian walkway and bridges over railway lines to stadium. For away end turn right at the bottom of steps. Thanks to Brian Scott a visiting Ipswich Town supporter for the directions.

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From The West

At the end of the M62, continue onto the A63 towards Hull. Stay on the A63 and the stadium is clearly signposted (KCOM Stadium and a football symbol) as you approach Hull. About one mile from the centre of Hull leave the A63 (just after you pass B&Q on the opposite side of the carriageway and is sign posted Local Infirmary) and take the 2nd exit at the roundabout. Turn left at the lights and then over the flyover, right at the next lights and the ground is down on the right.

From The North

Leave the A164 at the Humber Bridge Roundabout and take the first exit into Boothferry Road. The stadium is three miles down this road on the left.

From The South

Take the M1 to Junction 21A take the A46 exit to Braunstone Frith/ Kirby Muxloe/ B5380 then keep right at the fork, follow the signs for A46 Newark and merge onto A46 and follow it to just past Lincoln and at the roundabout take the first exit for Humber Bridge and then at the third roundabout after about 21 mile onto the A15 take the Third Exit for the M180/ Humber Bridge and then take the M180 to Junction 5 and take the sign for Hull/ Hull Airport then at the roundabout take the second exit onto the A15 and cross the Humber Bridge (cost £2.50 for Cars £4 for Buses) then at the roundabout take the third exit (Signposted City Centre) and then turn left at the lights and then over the flyover, right at the next lights and the ground is down on the right.

Thanks to John Aitken from the Wanderers Annual for providing the 'From the South' directions.

Car Parking

Jo Johnson informs me; 'the stadium has its own massive car park right next to the stadium, with access from Walton Street. It is floodlit, with a covered surface (that is, not a mud bath) and open to home and away supporters alike. If you get there early and want to go into the City centre, there is a park and ride bus to and from the car park. The cost of parking at the stadium is £5. It's easier to park at Hull than at any ground I know of - but there is one drawback, namely, getting away again at the end of the game. It can take up to half an hour or more, if you park a long way from the exits'. Tony adds; 'There are two exits from the car park onto Walton Street after the game. The right hand exit is often the quickest to leave by. As you turn right out the car park, this leads to Spring Bank West, where you have to turn left. Follow this road onto the next roundabout and turn left into Calvert Lane. Cross one set of traffic lights into North Road then at the next set of traffic lights turn right onto Boothferry road (you'll see the old Boothferry Park floodlights just off to your left). This takes you onto the A63'.

Alternatively there is a Park & Ride facility signposted off the A63 (shared with home supporters). Many fans opt to park in one of the many town centre car parks and then walk out to the stadium. Chris Bax adds; 'It is perhaps easiest is to park at the Infirmary (clearly signposted from the A63) where parking is only £5 for 4 hours. It's a 10-15 minute walk to the ground from there'.

Whilst Robert Walker adds; 'The most convenient car park in the city centre is the Pryme Street multi-storey car park, which is open to 7.30pm. Leave the A63 at the Myton Street exit and head North towards the city centre. You will pass Paragon station on your left. At the next traffic lights turn right into Spencer Street and then immediately left into Prospect Street and follow road round to the right into Pryme Street. Car park entrance is on right. There is also an NCP car park at the end of Pryme Street and Council surface car parks off Freetown Way. To walk to Stadium cross over Ferensway and walk along Spring Bank. Turn left onto Derringham Street by Polar Bear pub and then right onto walkway to the stadium'. Marcos Brown-Garcia tells me; 'The housing estate directly opposite the Hull Royal Infirmary offers lots of free on street parking spaces. This estate has no parking regulations.'

Please note that some residential areas near to the stadium have been made residents only parking zones, so don't park there as you may well end up with a parking fine. John Womersley adds; 'There is some street parking less than five minutes walk away. Leave the A63 at the Humber Bridge Roundabout and take the first exit into Boothferry Road. Pass Boothferry Park and forward onto Anlaby Road towards the Hull Royal Infirmary, You will pass the KC stadium on your left. Go over the flyover, and turn right at "The Eagle" pub into Coltman St then take the 2nd right into Cholmley St then 4th right into the Boulevard. There are many side streets without parking restrictions. To get to the ground simply walk to the top of the Boulevard and go up the pedestrian walkway to the stadium. To Get home simply go the other way down the Boulevard, then left into Hessle Rd, after 1/4 mile you'll come to a roundabout which takes you onto the A63 (Clive Sullivan Way) and M62. There is also the option of renting a private driveway near the KCOM Stadium via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.

Paul Robinson informs me; 'The disabled facilities are state of the art. Every stand in the stadium has a purpose built Disabled user platform, easily accessible from the wide concourse that circumnavigates the inside of the whole stadium. Stewards patrol every Disabled access area on the outside of the stadium, and if assistance is required it’s there on hand. Once through the entrance and up the lifts, the concourse awaits with its bars, food kiosks and betting shops. Throughout the concourse are TV’s showing Sky Sports as well as highlights of Hull City games. Once through the entrance into the arena, (curiously titled ‘Vomitories’) the Disabled platform awaits with plenty of space for wheelchairs, and seats for their companions. The St Johns ambulance are stationed at the platforms which is also a good idea, as they are immediately on hand.

The platforms themselves have a great position in each of the stands. Each stand has two platforms, and there is easy access seating and space for a wheelchair at pitch side. The Kingston Communications Stadium has arguably the top facilities in the country for disabled supporters and provides 304 spaces for wheelchair users and their helpers. There are also a further 300 spaces for the ambulant disabled. Wireless audio commentary is also available. Admission is free for wheelchair users while the carer pays the admission price for the relevant area of the stadium. Wheelchairs can also be hired if required to assist from their car to the seating area. Proof of ID, car registration number, and a refundable £5 deposit are required. Half time refreshments can be pre-ordered and delivered to the disabled areas. For home fans who are in receipt of DLA a parking space immediately outside the stadium is available, and visiting fans who wish to book a space should contact the club.' Admission prices for wheelchair and helper are £16 in the West Stand and £14 for other areas.

For further details of the disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.

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Hull City Football Club were formed in 1904. They originally played at the Boulevard Ground the then home of Hull Rugby League Football Club. After only one season they played at the Circle, which was Hull's Cricket Club Ground before moving to a new ground a short distance away on Anlaby Road in 1905. In the late 1920's the Club were informed that the ground was to be re-developed to make way for a new railway. In preparation for this the Club purchased some land which was to become the site of Boothferry Park. But development was slow and this coupled with the delay to the new railway meant that there was no great urgency to move and it was not until August 1946 that Boothferry Park, was officially opened for the visit of Lincoln City. The Club were to remain at Boothferry Park until moving to the new KC Stadium in 2002. Interestingly the site of the KC Stadium is on the same spot of the old Circle ground.

Visit our Lost Grounds and Stands Section to view photos, videos and read more details about Boothferry Park.

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the KCOM Stadium?

I’d never been to the KCOM Stadium, despite having a lot of family who live in Hull and are all supporters of the Tigers. There’s a small family rivalry when we play each other, and I was hoping we could grab our first win against them since 2008.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I travelled up on the Friday night with the journey taking just over four hours including a stop. I had dinner at my relatives, who live about 20 minutes drive outside Hull, and travelled into the city afterwards to get to where I was going to stay for the weekend. The KCOM Stadium was only a ten minute walk from where I was staying, but it is clearly signposted along the M62.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

As I was staying at my aunties, the ground was just a 10-minute walk away. I passed the Brickmakers Arms on Walton Street on my approach, with a mixture of home and away fans inside so that looks like a safe bet for a decent pub. That said, I headed straight to the Pitch Side bar next to the away end which is incorporated into the stadium itself. The home fans seemed very friendly.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of The KCOM Stadium?

I’ve passed the ground on numerous occasions and I’ve always found it impressive. I like how there is woodland and a community park integrated into the grounds of the stadium rather than it being slapped in the middle of an industrial estate. The away end offers a good view, however considering we took just under 1,000 away fans, the decision to have one bar/set of toilets open seemed a bit daft.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Unlike the norm away from home, Ipswich actually started really well. Just six minutes into the game, McGoldrick scored his 8th of the season to put us 1-0 up. We should have really capitalised and scored more as Hull were very poor, however defensive errors either side of the break saw Hull take a 2-1 lead courtesy of Bowen and Dicko which was very frustrating. With ten minutes to go, we had a great chance to equalise, as Waghorn was brought down in the box. Up stepped McGoldrick, whose tame effort was parried away by McGregor And it remaining 2-1 to the hosts. However, with two minutes left, a Chambers cross was headed back across goal by Webster, and Jordan Spence got a faint toe poke to send the ball pea-rolling over the line off the post. Scenes, relief, (and a rather angry text from my Dad who also supports Hull) as we celebrated that goal. That’s how it finished, as we claimed our first draw of the season. The atmosphere wasn’t great from either set of fans, but there was the occasional good spell. Stewards and facilities were fine, however, Pies were out of stock by half time – typical.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

As I was staying with the family, I didn’t hurry out, and it only took ten minutes to walk back. Hull continue their unbeaten run against us, although I was clearly more pleased with a draw when discussing the game with my relatives.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Overall a decent day out, and it was nice to finally tick the KCOM Stadium off the list. The late equaliser saved it from being a miserable away trip.

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the KCOM Stadium?

The old "I want to visit as many grounds as possible" is the reason I shall roll out. It was the first away game I was attending this season too, so I was excited in that respect too.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

The journey was fairly straightforward (but long). We drove in from Preston - it was a lot more awkward getting out of that place than it was getting into Hull. Locating the KCOM Stadium was a little cumbersome - we made the mistake of driving directly to the ground, which involved leaving Anlaby road, driving around a residential area and then going under the main road. GPS users should put in "Walton Street" for a destination and not the stadium, as they'll find themselves having to back up on themselves and navigate around a one-way system to get back out. The car park we ended up on was simply huge so I would advise drivers to take a mental note of where they parked their car (or use an app), - it's more than likely going to be dark when they're returning to it. Supporters need to make sure to get there in good time so they're quite close to the ground (trust me, the car park is giant). Oh, it was £5 to park there too.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

As it was an evening kick off, we decided to get some tea beforehand. After a bit of driving about, we stopped off at the Red Hawk which is about 20 minutes away on the A63 in Brough. It was a good chain restaurant which a decent menu, ideal for a hearty meal to fill you up. We then drank at the Brickmakers Arms/Park View (the stewards referred to it as the Brickmakers, but it's identifiable from a distance as The Park View). The pub was a bit run down inside, but the officials were happy for us have a bit of a sing song. It was a nice day and there's a small beer garden outside. It's known as a Home/Away fan pub, so we had to keep our wits about us too. It got a bit testy at times but we didn't see much trouble - the police were nearby.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the KCOM Stadium?

The KCOM Stadium is one of the finest I've seen in a while. Very nice indoors, a great view of the pitch and leg room wasn't too tight. To get there we had to go through a park so it was quite a pleasant stroll. It's about 10 minutes walk from the away pub we were in. I didn't eat anything but the food smelt quite tasty!

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

From a Bolton point of view, it was a shocker. We were terrible. I won't let that reflect on the day out as us long suffering fans are pretty much used to it now. The home atmosphere was electric - the away fans were located just a few metres from their loudest area. I was very impressed with the volume - something you seldom get from home fans at away games. They were very disgruntled about their owner too and that was very evident by the chants. The stewards had a smile on their face too for a lot of the game. Very friendly and helpful too.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

With the car parking situation in mind, we got away a few minutes before the final whistle. It was a brisk walk back in the fading light and my friend was very lucky to remember where he parked his (dark grey) car. When we arrived, the car park wasn't very full - quite the difference to when we arrived. Leaving earlier reaped benefits, getting out of the car park was quick and traffic getting out of Hull wasn't too problematic either. Traffic lights were very slow though so there's that.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

A long journey and a heavy defeat (0 - 4). A great looking ground, hospitality and good access to the KCOM Stadium made it a little easier to swallow.

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the KCOM Stadium?

I hadn't been to Hull before so it was a chance to tick off another new ground. Plus I knew that the KCOM Stadium was a ground that away fans liked and that gives a good view from the away section.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We travelled from my home near Manchester so it was very straightforward. We parked about 15 minutes walk away on the road in from the M62/A63 near Aldi and Lidl. The walk to the ground from the car was memorable for the slowness of walking speed of many Hull fans, very odd!

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Personally I would have headed to the Walton Social Club as the reviews on this website are excellent but my friends fancied a pub lunch so we stopped at the Home Farm Brewer's Fayre pub about seven miles away from the KCOM Stadium. By the time we got near the ground it was too late for a drink anywhere else.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the KCOM Stadium?

The KCOM Stadium is a very impressive and compact ground. We hadn't sold our full allocation so we were able to move round to nearer the goal and the away fans and plenty of other away fans did this as the view and space were both excellent from our location.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

We started brightly and took the lead after a couple of minutes when Stanislas converted an early penalty. We dominated for half an hour but then Hull woke up and took their chances with Hernandez scoring twice and Mings deflecting a Huddlestone's shot into his own net. As is often the case we had more of the possession (61%) but never really looked much like winning after the first half hour.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

As straightforward as getting to the ground. Straight up the A63 then on to the M62 and home not long after 7pm.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Given our respective league positions it was a disappointing result but Marko Silva seems to have made a positive impact very quickly. Despite the result I enjoyed the day and was very impressed by the ground and (a small minority of numpties aside) the good humour of, and the good atmosphere created by, the home fans.

Hull City v Manchester City
Football Premier League
Monday 26th December 2016, 5.15pm
George Henshaw (Manchester City fan)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the KCOM Stadium?

First away game with my daughter and felt this could be a safe place to go with modern facilities.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Journey was easy. The KCOM Stadium is well sign posted and easy to find. We headed for the main car park on Walton Street. We arrived one hour before kick off and there was a small five minute queue. The car park cost just £5.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

We stopped at a pub en-route (the Duke of Cumberland at North Ferriby) which had some fans in but mainly locals. It was good pub food and a nice place to visit.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the KCOM Stadium?

The footpaths around the ground were paved and in good condition. The ground was modern and compact. The away end wrapped itself round one corner of the ground and the whole stadium looked excellent.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Man City ran out 3-0 winners, but Hull gave as good as they got. The atmosphere was terrific and the home supporters to our right made lots of noise. The Police and stewards were very friendly. The coffee and tea were not drinkable and the pies did not look that good either. Alcoholic drinks were served prior to kick off but not at half time.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

We decided to leave 10 minutes early and a steward opened a gate and reminded us that we could not re enter the stadium. There was no traffic and we were away and on the A63 in about five minutes.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

The day out was very pleasurable. The KCOM Stadium was easy to find and it was easy to park. Around the stadium felt very safe even though there was no heavy policing. There seemed to be plenty of families attending the game and there was a friendly atmosphere throughout. A good day out and highly recommended.

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the KCOM Stadium?

My first visit to the KCOM Stadium, though I had visited the old Boothferry Park many years ago.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We went by supporters coach from the Hawthorns. On reaching Hull we were escorted by the police who were awaiting our arrival. There is a large car park at the rear of the KCOM Stadium which the coaches were taken through and parked up in a fenced off area reserved for away fans' coaches. From here the turnstiles are less than a minute's walk away.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

A lot of fans exited the car park and went to try out the local pubs. However we decided to go straight into the ground for food and a hot drink as it was a cold day.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the KCOM Stadium?

The ground is one of the new type having nothing like the character of Boothferry Park. Away fans have an excellent view in one corner of the ground, with ample leg room in the seats. The Main Stand has an arched roof, and is higher than the rest of the stadium. The floodlights are interesting in as much as there are small arched pylons on the roof, as well as he usual lights on the front of the stands. There were two good size screens, one at each end.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The acoustics of the ground make for a good atmosphere, though Hull's performance in the first half frustrated the home fans and gave them little to cheer about. The atmosphere picked up in the second half. The stewards were very good and didn't hassle the fans. Neither did they search the fans as they entered the ground. There are a couple of food bars which are situated up the entrance steps on the first floor. Hot drinks cost £2.50, and pies are £3.60. The game wasn't particularly exciting and ended in a 1-1 draw.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

It was out of the ground and straight onto the coaches. We were escorted by the Police away from the KCOM Stadium and along the A63 towards the motorway.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

It was a good day out. It was a fair result. My overall impression of the KCOM Stadium was average although we did have a good view. I can recommend a visit to anyone who is considering it.

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the KCOM Stadium?

As a Saints fan in the northern area, then when the fixtures were released, Hull was almost the first name on our list with them being the premier league's only Yorkshire team.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Transpennine train from Leeds to Hull. Yet another 2:15pm Sunday kick off wasn't perhaps overly convenient though we did arrive in Hull with ample time to spare before kick off, so overall not too bad.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

After consulting this guide, we headed for the Admiral of the Humber pub. A traditional Wetherspoon experience was to be had complete with food and drink on offer at extremely reasonable prices. There was a surprisingly large amount of Saints fans present as well as Hull supporters, who were all mixing nicely. My only grumble was for a busy football pub, only two people were behind the bar which delayed the queues a bit.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the KCOM Stadium?

The KCOM Stadium looks like another functional yet somewhat boring stadium of the modern era as you approach it from the footbridge, though it's curved design and large west stand seem far more impressive once inside the ground. We'd been given a generous allocation though due to the annoying kick off time, as expected the away end wasn't a sell out.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The game was effectively split - saints took an early lead from 12 yards and headed in at half time with a deserved lead. In the second half, Hull winger Robert Snodgrass effectively changed the game for the tigers - on the hour mark the Scottish international swept home a cross from the left wing with style before swinging a free kick onto Michael Dawson's head and beyond Fraser Forster little over 2 minutes later. That proved to be that and despite saints dominating the final few minutes, the home fans were able to roar their side onto a first win since August with the help of David Marshall's gloves. As for the food, we arrived late the pies had run out so I was limited to perhaps the worst pizza I've ever had in my life. The toilets were fine though I did find the PA system to be awful.

Comment on get ting away from the ground after the game:

With it being Sunday, trains were less frequent so we had quite a bit of time before heading home. After another quick stop in the Wetherspoons, we headed back to Hull station and got the train home fine.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Overall a great day out which was however soured by the result. I would be more than happy to return to the KCOM Stadium.

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the KCOM Stadium?

Having missed a few away games recently due to job commitments, I was lucky enough to get a weekend off work. So I grabbed some tickets the day before and began to look forward to visiting a ground that I had never been to before.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Travelling on the official coaches it was a easy trip up leaving Stoke at 10:30am and arriving at the ground just after 1pm. The coaches parked just a stones throw away from the stadium.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

On arriving at the ground we headed to what was called the 'Pitch Side Bar' which is just for away fans. In there they served beer and soft drinks as well as some pies. The bar was nice and clean and had good toilet facilities. It also had some televisions showing the early Premier League game of Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the KCOM Stadium?

On entering the ground and going up a few stairs we were greeted by only one refreshment kiosk. Decided to get some food which was heavily priced and needed to wait 10 minutes for a burger to be cooked. On going to our seat we had a good view and ample leg room.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The game it's self was massive. Hull on a bad run we were just beginning to pick up so I was quietly confident we could come away with something. I was right! A great double from the Swiss wonder Shaqari the first from 30 yards saw us win 2-0 overall no more than we deserved. The atmosphere among the Stoke faithful was superb. Even at half time you could here the singing from the concourse mainly because the concourse doesn't have its own roof which is a strange one. The overall attendance was 18,000 with 1700 from Stoke. Lots of empty seats and this produced a poor atmosphere from the Home faithful.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Back on the bus and we were moving within 30 minutes. We had a Police escort back out to the motorway.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Great away day helped by the result. Make sure you visit the Pitch Side Bar, but note if going in there that they stop serving 45 minutes before kick off. Overall the KCOM Stadium is a good friendly ground, even the stewards were not bad.

Hull City v Leeds United
Football Championship League
Saturday 23rd April 2016, 3pm
Josh Townend (Leeds United fan)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the KC Stadium?

I'm quite a sucker for long distance matches and being a Leeds fan living in South Wales, this was definitely one of them. I'd been to the KC before a number of years back, when Leeds played a friendly there, but I don't recall a great deal of what happened that day. I was obviously looking forward to seeing a local derby and to see what performance we could put in against a top six side, with ourselves having nothing left to play for.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Like I mentioned before, I did the journey from South Wales so I was up at 5:30am in the morning to catch the first train down to Cardiff then up towards Hull via Birmingham and Sheffield, arriving just after 1pm. I stopped for a few drinks in a Wetherspoons, before finding the ground, which was easy. It was quite conveniently located right down the road from the pub as one Leeds fan from the area was keen to point out.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

I went into a Wetherspoons in the town where inside there was a mix of Hull and Leeds fans, initially anyway. For a local derby, there was a surprisingly good-natured feel to the place, with friendly banter being thrown about between the two sets of fans. One Hull fan did take the banter to heart a bit, but was swiftly removed.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the KC Stadium?

The last time I had seen the KC Stadium, it was at night, so I didn't get to fully appreciate the ground. Aesthetically it looked very nice, although the new away section looked like it had been hastily put together, with little in the way of facilities and not much room to stand in. I also found it weird how it there was no roof on the concourse, as I've never seen that anywhere before. In general though, the ground looked very smart.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

It was great to see Chris Wood put us in front early on and there was a great buzz in the away end for much of the first half. The Hull fans were silent. That was until first half stoppage time when they scored two in three minutes. Suddenly they came out of their cage and started singing. I thought it was quite odd how the club felt the need to put chants up on the big screen as if the crowd needed dictating to. I stayed in my seat at half time so I didn't get to see the facilities. The away fans were brilliant in the second half, trying to egg Leeds on to an equaliser. It left quite a sour taste in the mouth when the Hull fans booed Berardi when he was stretchered off with an injury caused by Jake Livermore, It therefore felt even sweeter when we got an equaliser and the atmosphere in the away end doubled.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

I had no trouble getting away from the ground. I bumped into the Leeds fan that gave me directions on my way out who told me to steer clear of 'The Lair' (a Hull City pub) before a Hull fan told me it was full of OAPs and I was as likely to get a kicking outside there as I was to win the lottery! Alas, there were no lunatics looking to kick me to the kerb and I made my way to the train station unscathed. I eventually got back to my home in South Wales at around 1am.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

It was a great day out and a decent result against a strong Hull side. I'd definitely go again if they stay down

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the KC Stadium?

Some of my friends are huge Leeds fans so we had decided to see this game since Leeds away games are one of the best football experiences you can have (according to them). They couldn't get tickets in the away section since Leeds allocation for this game was quite small at 2,300 so we all bought tickets with the home fans and for me as a neutral that was no problem.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Took the train from Leeds to Hull, which took just under one hour, so no problem there. The KC Stadium is easy to find and there is a walkway for most of it. It took about twenty 20 minutes to walk to the stadium from from the rail station.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Before going up to the stadium, we walked down to the Minerva pub, which is past the Marina and I can recommend that. Nice pub by the water and since it was a sunny day we sat outside most of the time watching the Humber.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the KC Stadium?

I have to say that the KC stadium is probably the best stadium I have been to of the new grounds in the 25.000 capacity range. The ground is very impressive from the outside and even better from the inside. Evenly matched stands and a double tiered Main Stand. I don't think there could be a bad seat anywhere.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The away fans were housed in one of the corners, with the noisiest of the home fans located right next to them behind the goal. This made the atmosphere for this Yorkshire derby very loud. You could feel that Yorkshire pride was at stake and the stewards where kept busy for most of the the game but nothing mayor. I have to say the home support was good but the Leeds fans were amazing in the way they stuck behind their team. They probably was the main reason why Leeds found an equalizer a couple of minutes from the end for with 10-15 minutes to it looked very unlikely they would score with Hull looking the much better side. The game ended 2-2.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Same easy way getting back to station and we were on the train back to Leeds again within the hour.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

I have to say this was one of the best days of football I had in a long time. I heard some people say that Hull is not a very exciting place but I for one had a good time and would come again. The weather was nice the whole day we saw a pulsating Yorkshire derby with lots of good football and great atmosphere.

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the KC Stadium?

Hull City had been in brilliant form going into the game and the MK Dons were improving, so for an MK fan it had the feel of a potential giant killing. I had always thought the KC Stadium was pretty impressive and as Hull were likely to be promoted I took my chance to go.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Coming from Milton Keynes it is an 8-hour round trip. We travelled on one of the Club's supporters coaches, which was good especially at the stadium looked to be a little bit difficult to find. From what I saw parking at the stadium seemed fairly straightforward and stewards seemed happy to help.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

There's a bar specifically for away fans - called the Pitchside, which is situated by the club shop and away end. As the stadium entrance gates don't open much before kick-off its a convenient place to go. There are also plenty of pubs around the ground which sell drink and food. Not much else in regards to food apart from the concourses which are relatively expensive, compared to other grounds.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the KC Stadium?

The KC Stadium is really impressive, very similar in design to the Etihad Stadium, however much of the exterior wasn't very appealing. The away fans were housed in the North East corner of the ground, which although not large gave an excellent view. All in all - the KC Stadium is a great ground which could easily pass as a Premier League stadium.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The Game was excellent - a real mismatch in quality but finished 1-1. Atmosphere was excellent - Both fans were separated quite a bit - but still really loud and intense. Stewards were low key, but were helpful if you needed and didn't your view. Food was great if a bit expensive - wide variety at stadium - hot choc tea coffee beer pizza pies hot dogs etc... plenty of facilities toilets etc. compared to other grounds.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Very easy! Although surrounded in a residential area, the traffic seemed fast moving and the away coaches got away fine.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Great day and ground! Recommend to anyone - who doesn't mind a bit of travel though. Not any problems at all and great entertainment. Also as of 2015/16 Hull produce a DVD of each game - these have to be pre-ordered before the game but are only £5. A great souvenir of your day out - coupled with a visit to the Hull club shop.

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the KC Stadium?

The FA Cup is always a draw for me, so a trip up to Humberside was one I was looking forward to.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I took one of the official supporters coaches. It left at 6:15 am from Broadwater Green in Worthing. We stopped of at a services about half way there, and arrived about two hours before kick off.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Most of the Albion fans on the coach went to the New Walton Social Club about five minutes away from the ground which was very pleasant, the staff were friendly and the drinks very reasonably priced. It cost us a pound each to get in. The girl who served me my pie at the ground itself was very friendly, as were other staff and stewards.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the KC Stadium?

The KC Stadium looks very impressive from the outside. On one side you've got a park which looks very neat and tidy. On the other however you've got a car park which is perhaps the bleakest thing I've seen this season! Inside the stadium looks very good, even If I'm not a big fan of the lights show before the game and when Hull score!

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

We were awful! Hughton used the game as an opportunity to give some of the fringe players a game and they looked like they didn't give a toss. The only players who stood out were the Goalkeeper Maenpaa, Goldson at Right Back, Towell in Midfield and Sam Baldock when he came on. We didn't muster a single shot on target and without our keeper playing well we'd have lost 4-0 rather that 1-0. Hull deserved to win but I was so disappointed with the performance of the team.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

We got on to the coach and were away straight away, getting back around midnight.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Disappointment and frustration. Glad I got another away ground in though, and will be doing it in the league next year if Hull and Brighton both go up.

I was looking forward to visit because the KC Stadium is fairly new modern stadium and one of the biggest in the league. This was also my first visit there.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I travelled by minibus from Lancaster. The journey over to Hull was fine. The direction signs for the KC Stadium appear when you travel along the banks of the River Humber, so we just followed the signs and found the ground with no problem. We parked outside the entrance to the away end so it was easy to find after the game.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

When we arrived at the stadium a group of five of us walked across the bridge at the east end of the stadium into Hull City centre. We ended up in a pub just a stones throw from the railway station, the pub was called the Admiral of the Humber. The pub was a Wetherspoons which had both sets of fans inside, but there was never any hint of us being made to feel unwelcome.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the KC Stadium?

I was impressed when I saw the outside of the ground, and the inside wasn't too bad either. The stadium has quite a modern feel to it but no comfy seats. All the sides of the ground are similar the only difference is the only second tier in the North Stand, at one side. When we first entered through the turnstiles there were a lot of stewards there and we had to be patted down and have our bags searched.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The game wasn't brilliant in terms of quality, neither side dominated and only one goal by Hull separated the teams. The travelling Bolton fans were making a good noise but sadly that didn't seem to have any effect on the players. We were very close to the home fans and words were exchanged between the two sets of fans but there was no trouble as the area was well stewarded. The facilities were good over all including the catering area which offered a variety of food and at reasonable prices.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Because we were parked directly outside the away entrance it was very easy to get back to the minibus. Along with the official Bolton travel coaches we were escorted by the Police straight back to the motorway which was good.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Overall, I enjoyed a reasonable day out in all expect the awful weather and yet another disappointing result.

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

I had done many long trips away from home but never done Hull. I like to do all the newly promoted teams just in case I won’t get to do it again in the near future. Also, with Hull being so far away, it gives you a proud, loyal feeling when you do a 12 hour round trip on a cold, windy, February, Tuesday night.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I went on the official supporters coach with most other fellow fans due to the fact the weather conditions were not great around the country at the time. The coaches park in a caged off area, at the KC Stadium, totally separated from the home supporters with great steel fences surrounding this area. This penned off area is to prevent the home supporters coming near, this area really did have a sense of security about it. Where the coaches do park, you are right next to the stadium which is very handy. Behind the away end is a massive car park covering acres of land. Here, home and away supporters were parking here for a fair fee of £5. Be warned though, as the car park has an un-even surface and didn’t look all too great prior to kick off.

Finding the stadium was fairly hard when on the roads. Some newer stadiums are now built a little ‘out of town’ like Colchester and the ‘old’ Ricoh Arena for example. With the KC Stadium, it is really within Hull and is surrounded by many buildings and not far from the city centre.

3.What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

Before the game we went into a social club just across from the massive car park behind the away end named something like Walton Rd Social. You have to pay £1 to get in but in there you have about 6 big TV’s showing Sky TV, a massive pool table, cheap drinks and cheap food up for grabs too. In here there are a lot of home fans who kept themselves to themselves but were in high spirits.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

First of all I was very surprised at how different the KC Stadium looked to other stadiums I had been to e.g. Derby, Cardiff etc.. One side of the stadium is in amongst woodland which is very unusual as you’d normally expect an industrial estate plonked in front of these modern stadiums. The woodland hosted numerous pathways to get to the stadium. The way they’ve incorporated the stadium in this park was something special, and I admire the creators for not just dumping the stadium on that car park I was saying about. Another thing that was noticeable was the floodlights. They had two circular shaped structures on top of the East Stand that was the stadiums dominant aspect. Once in the stadium I was even more impressed. The Main Stand, named the ‘West Stand’ is a two tiered affair that curves over slightly to fit in with the rest of the three stands that are single tiered. The West Stand was the stadiums eye-catcher that impressed Saints fans. The other three stands are near enough identical and are slightly raised from the playing action. So if you get row A, don’t be fooled, as you’ll be a little above the playing surface. At either end there are two massive TV screens that are very interactional when the 90mins is not ticking by. Another thing to note is the P.A system; this is one of the clearest I’ve heard. One thing that was funny was when the teams came out onto the pitch, the song ‘Eye of the Tiger’ is played full blast. The concourse has some character about it too. It was a nice gesture to put permanent signs around saying ‘thank you for visiting Hull’ and ‘Enjoy the game’.

The game itself was nothing spectacular. We (Southampton) ran out 1-0 winners within what was a spicy atmosphere. Both sets of fans were vocal all match. Towards our left is the East Stand where half of that stand is made up of the ‘hard core’ fans who like to stand and sing all match. However I thought this area of the stadium has unsavoury aspects as they were taunting at us all match which made it, in parts, a little intimidating. In fact, half of this stand were not there to watch the football, but were there to hurl abuse, something I’ll be mindful of in future visits. Reading through other reviews it mentions the stewards being a little over the top. I have to say, I tend to agree as many were getting involved in scuffles and were quite rude to some of the visiting fans. However, nothing was said to get u to sit down as 900+ Saints fans stood all match. I got my hands on one of the pies and, as what you’d expect from up north, it was very good!

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Getting out of the stadium itself took a lot of time as the entrances to the stand are at the back of the stand. The coaches wait in the pens a small while to make the Hull fans clear from the surroundings. It does take a while getting back onto the motorway.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Overall a good day out in one of the best stadiums I’ve been to. The atmosphere was great but a little unsavoury at times. Highly recommend visiting this stadium.

We went to Hull City the previous season and thought we were harshly done by in the 2-0 loss so hoped to do better this time around. We had also enjoyed our previous trip and liked the places we visited. Also this time we didn’t have any children with us so were not restricted in where we were able to go, plus it was one our travelling party’s first away match!

2. How easy were your journey/ finding the ground/ car parking?

We set off earlier than the Club Coaches in order to leave us enough time to park and enjoy the hostelries in the Hull area. We set our destination as the Linnet & Lark pub we’d visited briefly the previous season. To be honest, the stadium itself is pretty easy to find as it is adjacent to the main route into Hull from the West. The pub itself is located past the ground, towards the City Centre, leaving us about a 20 minute walk. We were able to park on the Pub car park for a £2 fee for the day, which we thought was reasonable. The 2 hours 15 minutes it took to get there from the West Midlands was more than acceptable.

3. What you did before the game pub/ chippy... home fans friendly?

There were a number of bars/pubs in Princess Avenue and we intended to visit a few. As it was, when we got to our intended destination, we saw it had been refurbished and was now called “Bowers”. There are still TV’s to watch the early/late games but the Pool tables have gone. They have a range of real ales and do food too. The bar staff were also very friendly as were the locals and we ended up staying there as we had seats and a view of the TV screens. After warming ourselves there (it was a pretty cold day outside, the first cold one of the season) we headed off for the ground stopping at a Burger van for a double cheeseburger at £3. Again good value we thought. There was no problem with any home fans and after the game we ended up discussing who were most likely to go down. They thought their chances were greater than ours…. we will see!!

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

We hear that Hull City like to encourage supporters to walk to the Stadium and it certainly is easy to do just that. Access is gained over a series of footbridges and leads to the side of the stadium. I do like the look of the KC Stadium though, to my shame, I never visited Boothferry Park but the new stadium is pretty tidy and impressive for a new build. The surrounding area is park land but I must say that I didn’t really notice that fact, I suppose being cold and dull isn’t great for the aesthetics. The away section has been moved slightly from last season and is more on one side but access is good and the queues moved quickly. The concourse seemed adequate and service was pretty quick but there were no TV’s working inside our section on the day. This might be remedied for other team’s visits. The away section seems quite large, our allocation being 2,400 and the rest of the ground looks good when it fills up. The Stadium is a little like Bolton or Huddersfield with the curved roof but has its own style.

We had the pies last year which were very good but as we had already eaten on the way in I didn’t partake this year. There seemed to be a moderately high Police presence which was a little surprising but they all seemed in good humour and more than ready to have a laugh with the Baggies fans. Stewards were around but didn’t interfere with us standing throughout the match and all seemed fairly laid back and relaxed. The toilets were very cramped and though there were a couple of gents toilet areas, queues here were quite long. The half time queues were worrying if you left it to the last minute.

As for the atmosphere, it was more subdued than the previous season. Whether the change in location has had an effect is hard to say but their supporters rarely made much of a noise until just before the end. The atmosphere in the away section is usually pretty good with Albion fans and this was no exception with singing pretty much throughout the game.

The match was a turgid affair and we thought there would be pretty good odds on it being last on Match of the Day (though it wasn’t!!) and after we missed an early penalty it was pretty awful. Apart from a free kick in the second half for us and a couple of wayward shots, both teams looked short of attacking ideas. 0-0 was a fair reflection and I think we were the happier side with the away point.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

The 20 minute walk back to the car and a beer to enable the traffic to disperse worked well. The area was pretty much clear of traffic when we set off. After another enjoyable chat with the bar staff and a nice relaxing pint, we set off home. Even after the delayed start back and after dropping the others off en route, we were still back home by half past eight. We even caught some of the Albion coaches up before we got to West Bromwich!

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

I like going to Hull and though the game was not the best (to say the least), it was a good day out with some good company in the car there and back and always great to go away with the Baggies. Wouldn’t miss it for the world. Hopefully we can both survive and we might get to visit some of the other bars in the area next year.

Hull City v West Ham United
Premier League
Saturday, September 28th 2013, 3pm
By Philip Pegram (West Ham United fan)

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

Never travelled to Hull Before. Not heard many good reports about Hull in general so wanted to visit to see what it was like. Always love travelling away with West Ham.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We stayed in Hull for the week end and travelled up to Hull from Essex on Friday afternoon. Took 3 hours to drive. From the centre of Hull only a 15 – 20 minute walk away.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

We had a few drinks and food in Wetherspoons in the Centre 1st then a mini pub crawl round the town centre. Many pubs to choose from. We then headed to the Brickmakers arms before the game for a few. Mixture of home and away fans.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

I was pleasantly surprised when seeing the ground. Hull not being a massive Premier league Team the ground was very impressive. Great view of the ground where the away fans were. In General great ground.

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

Going to a ground of such size was a rareity for us, and in that sense, I could hardly wait. I was aware of how modern the Stadium was and greatly anticipated the visit as a result. In terms of the occasion itself, the fact that we had an opportunity to reach the 5th round for the second year running (having been narrowly defeated by Manchester United at Old Trafford the year before) was very exciting. I could not wait.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking:

Being on an away supporters coach, I wasn’t actually involved in terms of the finding of the ground or car parking as would have been suitably arranged beforehand. We did, however embark on a far more scenic route than had been anticipated owing to a collision on the motorway. This meant our journey was even longer than the 4 hours or so that we had expected. However, this did not dampen the lively mood of the 40 or so supporters on the coach and we reached the stadium feeling as though time had passed rather quickly. We parked in the extremely large stadium car park located within seconds of the ground which would have meant no fans would have found any trouble with finding a spot to park.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

With an hour or so to spare, we made our way over to the social club that was happy to accept away fans. This one only a few minutes away from the stadium. Although rather cramped there was a friendly atmosphere and the drinks were reasonably priced. There was also a full sized snooker table available for use. The home fans were extremely friendly and one even offered me his programme as well as his compliments on Crawley’s performance on getting this far in the cup.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

The stadiums' exterior was matched by the impressive nature of the interior. Both were extremely modern and interesting to look at. Even for a Championship side there was a mutual agreement amongst the away fans that the stadium was a real spectacle within itself. Even the way ‘Hull’ was written out across the South stand with its vivid orange colour and slanted font did well to impress. The away end was fantastic in terms of view, leg room, and comfortable nature of seat. Before the match begun, the large electronic scoreboard showed live coverage of the remaining minutes of the tie between Liverpool and Manchester United, though our positioning did not provide us with the greatest view.

Although not fully concentrated on taking in my surroundings due to the tense nature of the affair, the stewards seemed to be as friendly as you would expect and were happy to participate in the friendly natured banter that the Crawley fans were giving. The home fans were notably quiet, despite them not turning up in quite the numbers they would do on a weekend league tie. In terms of the match itself, I was positively overwhelmed following a game in which we matched the Championship side all the way and came away with a fully deserved 0-1 victory, well missed Matt Tubbs providing the winner. The catering facilities were fine with the food priced at a reasonable level. All was also well in the toilet facility department.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

We were back on the coach within minutes of the final whistle though there was some congestion when it came to navigating through the streets of Hull and emerging back out onto the motorway. A police escort ensured that there was no trouble on the way out, though it seemed unlikely that we would have encountered any if the escort had not been provided. However, it was a welcomed gesture by the local police.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

In summary, the stadium itself would probably have been enough to make the trip worthwhile. The accessibility of the stadium and the fact that it was well sign posted, in addition to the large car parking availability meant that the arrival was easy in a practical sense. The good prices and friendly locals just added to what made a great all round away experience.